WWF Cymru has organised the trip as part of the UK Shark Tagging Programme which aims to gather much needed data to help protect sharks in the UK. The scheme was set up by anglers in 1999 and since then has provided valuable information on the distribution, behaviour, migration patterns and reproduction of shark populations.

Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru said: "The lack of information on blue sharks in UK waters is precisely what encouraged WWF to support the UK shark tagging programme. The aim of the project is to contribute towards the protection of UK shark species, by encouraging a catch and release responsible scheme."

"The tagging is a simple yet effective way to monitor shark movements. We have learnt that sharks tend to travel long distances and a high proportion of specimens tagged off our coasts are in most cases caught again by Spanish, Portuguese and sometimes even Japanese commercial fishing fleets," he added.

Carwyn Jones, Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside: "A key aim of the Welsh Assembly Government's Environment Strategy is for the marine environment around Wales to be valued and understood by all, and respected for the life it contains and supports. We want our seas to be clean, to support vibrant economies, and health and functioning ecosystems that are diverse, productive and resilient, while being sensitively used and responsibly managed. We are working with Defra to ensure that the Marine Bill can help us deliver this and other related aims for the marine environment, including our developing all-Wales Fisheries Strategy."

"I hope that today will give me the opportunity to experience some practical marine science at first hand and to see the important role that sea users can play in increasing our knowledge of the marine environment," he added.

When a shark is tagged all its vital statistics are carefully noted on a card including its length, weight, sex, species, condition along with the location, tidal and weather state. Captured locations are kept confidential and only issued to the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton who co-ordinate the tagging scheme. When the shark is caught again, usually by fishermen, the individual number on the tag will be returned along with its location.

"As part of our Marine Act Campaign we are advocating a marine spatial plan approach to the way our seas are managed, this could provide better protection for pregnant female sharks. There may be instances where we know sharks tend to pup which could help us identify these important sites and establish them as special sites which would stop fishing and extractive activities at certain times of year," added Mr Parry.

The Shark Tagging Programme has been supported by skippers and anglers throughout the UK as a way of encouraging the growing trend for catch and release. The most common shark found in Welsh waters is the blue, others found in UK waters include the tope, smooth hound, blue, porbeagle and thresher.

Last year WWF Cymru tagged six blue sharks – the largest weighed 77lb and nearly 7 foot long. Harbour porpoises, common dolphins and a minke whale were also sighted